CMU's campus could soon have its own zoning

Mt. Pleasant city leaders are considering creating a new land-use zone that would cover a big chunk of the city. And it would change … nothing.

At least not for the moment, anyway.

“It removes any ambiguity,” said interim city planner Alan Bean. “Any of the requirements of the city ordinance do not apply to the Central Michigan University campus.”

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That’s already how things work. A 1963 state law put land-use control in the hands of the CMU board of trustees, not the city, according to city attorney Scott Smith.

The city’s law, however, has never been brought in line with that state mandate. Parts of the campus officially have single-family residential zoning; others are zoned for student-type housing, and bits and pieces have commercial or research park zoning.

None of it has mattered for about 50 years.

“This will treat the university like public schools are treated and federal buildings are treated,” Smith said. “We have never exercised zoning control over the main campus of the university.”

The proposed new University district would apply to CMU’s main campus. It wouldn’t apply to university property away from the main campus, including the president’s house or the CMU Global Campus headquarters on the north side of Mt. Pleasant.

Private property enclaves surrounded by campus property, including four churches, would remain subject to city zoning.

The city attorney said many other university communities have similar laws, including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, East Lansing, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Allendale Township, home of Grand Valley State University.

“Why wasn’t this a good idea 10 years ago?” asked Planning Commissioner William Daily during a presentation on the proposed law.

“This probably was a good idea 10 years ago,” Smith answered.

Smith said the city hopes to reach a deal with the university to guarantee notification and cooperation over land use and infrastructure issues. As a courtesy, the university notifies the city when projects close to the edge of campus are planned, and Smith wants to make that a formal procedure.

The proposed new law makes it clear that if the college sells property, its zoning becomes the same as downtown business district zoning.

The planning commission has recommended the city commission adopt the proposal into law.

About the Author

Mark Ranzenberger has told the stories of mid-Michigan since 1973. He’s the online editor of TheMorningSun.com. Follow him on Twitter and Tout @ranzenberger. He still has a landline at 989-779-6042. Reach the author at mranzenberger@michigannewspapers.com
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